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While I was speaking at the Q Conference in Portland - I sadly found out about the death of David Wilkerson in a car accident.  David, and more particularly his son Gary - have had a life long and profound impact on my life.  My Dad pastored First Baptist Church, Lindale, Texas when I was in Jr. high and high school.  I remember when I was 14 that this man who wrote “The Cross and the Switchblade” that had become a movie was coming to live in Lindale.  Lindale was a town with a population of 1044 people.  It was quite a big deal.  Teen Challenge, one of the ministries David Wilkerson had started, was buying land to have a center for people who were coming off drugs and being discipled to live.  Because we were Baptist and they were Assembly of God - and the divisions back then were so strong - (thank God that’s changed) - we were shocked when they would come to our church.  With them, over time, came Leonard Ravenhill, Dallas Holm, Keith Green, and lots of other people that at the time I didn’t understand who they were or what they had done.  But it didn’t matter, to me, they became people that I admired greatly and looked up to. 

I remember growing up with Gary and a lot of my friends - our High School class had only 88 - when I tell people here I was #44 in my class it sounds good - until, they hear how small it was.  Gary was a groomsman at my wedding.  We wound up doing some ministry together in Florida and other places.  I did a research project for them while a student at Baylor.  He’s spoken at our church and to our planters, and I love him deeply and am grateful for who he is. 

But I’m also grateful to his dad.  My Dad had just left the pastorate of FBC Lindale and was going into evangelism when he became very ill and was hospitalized for a few weeks.  I was a student at Baylor in my last semester and came close to quitting so I could come home and help my family through that crisis time.  David Wilkerson felt the best thing I could do was stay in school and not quit - so he paid my last semester.  Whenever I saw him, he’d always ask about my family and what I was up to.  I loved going to Time Square Church - I felt like I was worshipping with the nations. 

What I saw as a kid, and as a young man, and even now in David Wilkerson were all those elements of a man that God uses.  He was godly, prayerful, focused, determined, uncompromising, visionary, tenacious, and always moving forward.  We will all miss him.  What a church planter - doing it in his 60’s!!!  There are so so many lessons we can take away from his life. 

I have no doubt when he stepped into eternity he heard, “Well done David Wilkerson.”  We are following behind you David and long to hear that as well.  Love you Gary -